Of course, mobile subscriptions are not spread evenly between the developed and developing world, and there are many people in the developing world without mobile phone service. Penetration was 124% in the developed world, as a significant number of users have more than one phone. Nonetheless, penetration was still 84% in the developing world.

The ITU forecasts that penetration will take another jump this year. It expects there to be 6.8 billion mobile subscriptions at year-end 2013, good for 96% penetration. It forecasts penetration in the developing world will grow to 89% this year.

Elsewhere, the ITU forecasts there will be 2.1 billion mobile broadband subscriptions (i.e., smartphones) by the end of 2013, suggesting global smartphone penetration of 30%.

It’s no secret that emerging markets are producing an increasing number of millionaires each year.

The Financialist, Credit Suisse’s digital magazine about business and economies, recently released a Global Wealth Report which looked at personal wealth around the globe. The report found that in the next five years more and more millionaires will come from countries in the developing world, such as Brazil and China.

By 2017, China, which currently has 964,000 millionaires, will have 1,901,000 millionaires—a growth of 97 percent, according to The Financialist. And Brazil, which currently has 227,000 millionaires, will have 497,000 millionaires by 2017—a growth of 119 percent. Russia and Malaysia will also see their numbers of millionaires grow over the next five years with a growth of 109 percent and 108 percent respectively.

Mobile-only users also account for a larger share of new mobile users. Mobile-only users were 39 percent of new mobile users added in the quarter, up from 35 percent in the second quarter.

Expect the proportion of mobile-only new users to keep rising, for two reasons: the growth of smartphones in the developing world, and increased access to Facebook through feature phones.

As Quartz reported, Facebook joined with carriers to roll out a text-only version on feature phones worldwide. Facebook Zero allows consumers to access Facebook without incurring data charges.

Facebook’s next billion users will likely include a substantial number of mobile-only consumers, raising the stakes on mobile monetization efforts. In terms of Facebook Zero, mobile advertising is not the most likely avenue to monetization. Text ads would be difficult to integrate. Also, audiences on feature phones aren’t likely to entice major brands. As Quartz points out, other strategies might include commerce or micropayments.

Mobile-only users also account for a larger share of new mobile users. Mobile-only users were 39 percent of new mobile users added in the quarter, up from 35 percent in the second quarter.

Expect the proportion of mobile-only new users to keep rising, for two reasons: the growth of smartphones in the developing world, and increased access to Facebook through feature phones.

As Quartz reported, Facebook joined with carriers to roll out a text-only version on feature phones worldwide. Facebook Zero allows consumers to access Facebook without incurring data charges.

Facebook’s next billion users will likely include a substantial number of mobile-only consumers, raising the stakes on mobile monetization efforts. In terms of Facebook Zero, mobile advertising is not the most likely avenue to monetization. Text ads would be difficult to integrate. Also, audiences on feature phones aren’t likely to entice major brands. As Quartz points out, other strategies might include commerce or micropayments.

Mobile-only users also account for a larger share of new mobile users. Mobile-only users were 39 percent of new mobile users added in the quarter, up from 35 percent in the second quarter.

Expect the proportion of mobile-only new users to keep rising, for two reasons: the growth of smartphones in the developing world, and increased access to Facebook through feature phones.

As Quartz reported, Facebook joined with carriers to roll out a text-only version on feature phones worldwide. Facebook Zero allows consumers to access Facebook without incurring data charges.

Facebook’s next billion users will likely include a substantial number of mobile-only consumers, raising the stakes on mobile monetization efforts. In terms of Facebook Zero, mobile advertising is not the most likely avenue to monetization. Text ads would be difficult to integrate. Also, audiences on feature phones aren’t likely to entice major brands. As Quartz points out, other strategies might include commerce or micropayments.

You’ve got to hand it to Google: they rarely do anything in a small way. “Google for Entrepreneurs (www.google.com/entrepreneurs/),the search giant’s new, global umbrella initiative of programs and resources supporting entrepreneurs and startups, is genuinely impressive in its breadth, depth and thoughtfulness. They’re kicking off the initiative with Google for Entrepreneurs Week with events in 26 cities in 13 countries around the world this week.

They’ve already got entrepreneurial-support programs and partnerships set up in places as wide-ranging as Korea, Israel, South Africa, Bulgaria, London, Egypt, Australia and Kenya – not to mention activities in Portland, Austin, New Orleans, D.C., Atlanta and numerous other U.S. locations.

I appreciate several things about what Google is doing with this effort, but let me highlight three here. First, they’re taking a holistic approach, providing people support and expertise, community – both virtual and in-person – online tools, and in some locales, even incubator space and mentorship.

Second, they’re approaching entrepreneurship with an attitude of social responsibility, with special programs to assist minorities and women, and going out of their way to support activities in the developing world. And third, they’re being open and approachable, making sure it’s easy for individuals to tap into the available resources by simply perusing the clear online kiosks.

It would have been easy for a company like Google to put up a bunch of web tools and re-label them as “…for entrepreneurs” – and then hold a few live sessions in Silicon Valley. But to put feet on the ground in Nairobi and Nashville and Ho Chi Mihh City and Haifa is a different matter entirely.

Time will tell, but we may see these programs plant thousands of s! uccessfu l new seedlings.

Digital Consigliere

Dr. Augustine Fou is Digital Consigliere to marketing executives, advising them on digital strategy and Unified Marketing(tm). Dr Fou has over 17 years of in-the-trenches, hands-on experience, which enables him to provide objective, in-depth assessments of their current marketing programs and recommendations for improving business impact and ROI using digital insights.